Luka Doncic’s injured hand fully healed thanks to long hiatus

Perhaps the good thing about the long hiatus brought about by the coronavirus pandemic is that Luka Doncic’s injured hand has fully healed according to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Perhaps the good thing about the long hiatus brought about by the coronavirus pandemic is that Luka Doncic’s injured hand has fully healed according to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

To recall, Luka Doncic injured his left thumb in the Mavs’ 109-103 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in late February, as per iSports basketball data provider. He left in the first quarter of the game to have it taped up then came back right away. The Slovenian revealed that his thumb got slapped twice but the referees thought that the defenders hit all ball.

Though he finished their game against the Spurs, the injury bothered Doncic in the next games. After their 126-118 loss to the Miami Heat, Doncic admitted how difficult it was to play with an injured thumb, according to iSports basketball API.

The Mavs wisely let Doncic sit out several games for the thumb to heal. But fast forward to March 11, the NBA had to suspend the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mavs were one of the last teams to play.

For the past few weeks, the NBA has been in constant discussion on the possible resumption of the season. Disney World in Orlando is the highly-favored bubble location which will hold closed-door games as well as house players and their family.

All stats from iSportsapi.com

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Jason Terry leaves Mavs G-League team for Arizona Wildcats

19-year NBA veteran and former Wildcat Jason Terry has accepted assistant coaching job at Arizona. Terry departs Mavs, where he's been assistant GM of Texas Legends. Announcement expected Thursday.

One-time NBA champ and former Sixth Man of the Year winner Jason Terry is taking the next step in his post-playing career. NBA insider Shams Charania reports that Terry has accepted a role as an assistant coach in his alma matter of Arizona.

According to iSports NBA API, Jason Terry is parting ways with the Dallas Mavericks — the team he played for eight seasons during his time in the league — after being the assistant general manager of the Mavs’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, since September of 2019. 

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

It was a short-lived stint for Terry as a league executive, and it appears that at this point, he considers coaching to be a better fit for him as opposed to taking the front office route.

As per basketball data provider iSports API, Terry spent four years with Arizona as a player between 1995 and 1999. In his sophomore year, he helped the Wildcats to a historic NCAA title. In his final playing year for the squad, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 21.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals, while also knocking down 2.6 triples per game on a 39.8-percent clip. This earned him the Pac-10 Player of the Year award for that season, as well as an inclusion to the All-Pac-12 squad.

He is now making a triumphant return to his old stomping ground. Terry seems to be determined to pursue a career in coaching, and is willing to earn his stripes, so to speak, as he accepts a role as an assistant under tenured head coach Sean Miller, who has been at the helm since 2009.

All stats from isportsapi.com

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Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks out on ‘Greek Freak’ moniker

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlike most NBA superstars before him.

The reigning MVP possesses incredible size, length, athleticism and skill — a blend which has helped him lead the Bucks to new heights in the last two seasons，according to iSports NBA API. This blend also birthed a new nickname, one that paired his nationality with his unique physical attributes: the “Greek Freak.”

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Even though the nickname sort of speaks for itself, its origin is unknown. Not even Antetokounmpo knows who first came up with the nickname, though he said he loves the moniker.

“First of all, the nickname is really good. I like it,” the Bucks superstar said during an appearance on Capture Sports Marketing’s Athletes Doing Good Radiothon last Thursday.

“I don’t remember the first time I heard about it — it was probably my rookie year — but I really don’t know who came up with it,” he said. “I just went on the court one day and I had like a crazy dunk or a crazy block and after that everyone started calling me the Greek Freak. So it stuck by me, I love it and it’s a cool nickname.”

“Freak” might not have the most positive connotation, but it is fitting for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo routinely makes highlight-reel plays on the hardwood, using his long strides and enormous reach to get to the rim and score from just about anywhere.

According to iSports basketball API, the 25-year-old was likely on his way to a second consecutive MVP in 2019-20 prior to the suspension of play due to the coronavirus crisis.

On the season, Giannis was averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists for the Bucks while also showing an increasing level of comfort in shooting from the perimeter, as per basketball data provider iSports API.

Antetokounmpo’s steady evolution continues to make him one of the most remarkable superstars in the NBA, and the nickname has become synonymous with his persona.

All basketball stats from iSportsapi.com

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Breaking down John Wall’s total NBA salary from his career

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall will have collected $278,892,145 in NBA money once his current contract expires in the summer of 2023.

The Wizards drafted Wall with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft after playing one season for a star-studded Kentucky Wildcats roster that also boasts fellow NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and two-way veteran guard Eric Bledsoe. 

The explosive guard went on to have a commendable rookie season norming averages of 16.4 points and 8.3 assists per game according to iSports NBA livescore API while making $5,144,280. His efforts just fell short of grabbing Rookie of the Year which Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans won.

In his second year, John Wall made $4,451,040. He finished his rookie contract with the Wizards by earning $5,915,880 in Year 3 and $7,459,925 in Year 4, as per iSports basketball API.

（iSports basketball data API covers a wide range of games and leagues with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

As expected, the Wizards signed Wall to a five-year, $84.8 million maximum rookie extension which kicked in during Year 5. The former Wildcat made $14,746,000 during the 2014-15 season. That was the first year of the extension.

To complete his rookie-scale extension, John Wall made $15,851,950 in 2015-16, $16,957,900 in 2016-17, $18,063,850 in 2017-18 and $19,169,800 in 2018-19. During that span, Wall averaged 21.0 points and 10.1 assists over 228 games. He also made three All-Star teams, according to iSports basketball data API.

In 2016-17, there was arguably no better point guard than Wall. He averaged 23.1 points and 10.7 assists. After that season ended, the Wizards signed Wall to a monstrous four-year, $171 million Designated Veteran Player Extension. The contract was set to kick in during the 2019-20 season.

Unfortunately, the injury bug started catching up to John Wall during the 2017-18 campaign. However, the superstar played through the ailments because that’s how he was brought up to play. The wear and tear ultimately kept making Wall’s pain worse. He finally made the smart decision to undergo heel surgery during the 2018-19 season after playing in 32 games, recorded by iSports basketball data.

After he got his heel surgery, though, John Wall fell at his house and tore his Achilles tendon. He was set to miss the entire 2019-20 season.

Wall has yet to fully live up to the contract due to injuries and has been the subject of ridicule among NBA circles and some far-fetched trade rumors.

Moving forward, Wall will make $41,254,920 in 2020-21, $44,310,840 2021-22 and $47,366,760 in 2022-23. He has career averages of 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists in 573 games with the Wizards.

Stats from iSportsapi.com

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Giannis Antetokounmpo's brother Alex to skip college to play in Europe

Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest brother of NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, plans to skip college and play professionally in Europe to prepare for the NBA, as per iSports baketball data API.

Alex Antetokounmpo, who graduated from Dominican High School in Wisconsin, he had reportedly received offers to play at DePaul, Ohio and Green Bay.

（iSports basketball API covers a wide range of games including NBA with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

"I am examining my options. I have a few choices from the States, but I have decided to play in Europe," he told the website. "I want to become a pro as soon as possible. I was born and raised in Europe, I know European basketball, and the best thing for me would be to sign a contract with a European club. I will have to train and compete against grown men, I will experience strong competition and pressure, and I will evolve on every level."

According to iSports basketball API, Alex Antetokounmpo averaged 20 points and 7 rebounds per game as a senior at Dominican High School this season. He moved to the Milwaukee area from Greece in 2013, when Giannis was a rookie with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Antetokounmpo isn't ranked in the 2020 ESPN 100. He was twice a first-team all-state selection and averaged 20 points and 7 rebounds per game during his senior season.

He will be eligible for the NBA draft beginning in 2021. He told EuroHoops.net that playing in Europe "will really help me in my plan to prepare myself in the best possible way. So when I feel ready to take the next step, I will be totally prepared for the NBA."

As per baskertball data provider iSports API, if he makes it to the NBA, he would become the fourth Antetokounmpo brother to do so. Giannis and Thanasis both play for the Bucks, while Kostasplays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Patrick Ewing says his two Olympic gold medals were stolen

Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing revealed Tuesday that his two Olympic gold medals and NCAA championship ring were stolen.

Ewing discussed the loss of his 1984 and 1992 medals on "The Dan Patrick Show."

He had played 17 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the New York Knicks, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, according to basketball data provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

The 11-time All-Star said Tuesday was the first time he's talked about the theft.

"My house got broken into in New York, and at one point they stole my medals," Ewing said. "So I called Jerry Colangelo [former USA Basketball chairman], and he was great to be able to get me two replacement medals."

Ewing won the 1992 medal as part of the Dream Team, the United States' first roster of primarily professional players, as per iSports baksetball API.

"He took care of me," Ewing said of Colangelo. "He's a great guy."

Ewing, 57, said the 1984 national championship ring he won with Georgetown was also taken.

"They did take my college championship ring, but someone tried to sell it on eBay and I was able to get that back," said Ewing, who is now the head coach at his alma mater.

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Texas Tech's Jahmi'us Ramsey declares for NBA draft

Texas Tech freshman Jahmi'us Ramsey declared for the 2020 NBA draft on Saturday.

Ramsey emerged as one of the top freshman guards in this year's class with a strong season in the Big 12. Acording to basketball data provider iSports API, he averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Red Raiders, shooting 43% from 3-point range. He was named Big 12 freshman of the year and awarded a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Ramsey has not hired an agent and said in his statement on Twitter that he will maintain his college eligibility.Ramsey took a circuitous route to Texas Tech, starting his high school career at Duncanville in Dallas before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, then transferring again to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before finishing up back at Duncanville. 

He was managed to exceed those lofty expectations with a strong freshman season that entered him into the one-and-done conversation.The appeal around Ramsey is readily apparent on first glance, as he stands 6-foot-4, as per iSports basketball API, with a strong frame, solid athletic ability and terrific scoring instincts. He's a gifted isolation scorer who can bully weaker guards and shows terrific shot-making prowess from all over the floor thanks to his unlimited confidence and excellent mechanics pulling up off the dribble from long vantage points.

Not turning 19 until June, he is one of the youngest players currently projected to be drafted, according to basketball stats API.

The NBA draft is scheduled for June 25, but following worldwide suspension of basketball activities, NBA teams are lobbying the league office to push it to August in order to salvage the pre-draft process.

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Chinese Basketball Association postpones restart until at least July

The Chinese Basketball Association is facing another setback in its efforts to resume play in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is reported that league officials met overnight to discuss the fate of its season, which has been on hold since Jan. 24 according to basketball data provider iSports APPI, and elected to postpone its schedule again, this time until at least July.

The CBA had been scheduled to resume play on April 15, and teams had taken steps to call back American players. But on March 30, the General Administration of Sports -- an arm of the Chinese government -- issued a wide-ranging ban on large-scale sporting gatherings due to concerns with containment of the virus, as pei iSport basketball API.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Further complicating matters is the entry ban that was implemented by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in late March on all non-citizens, including residents and foreigners with previously issued visas. Several players were unable to enter China, leaving many CBA rosters without one or both of the allotted import players.

No final decision on the CBA's season can be made without government clearance, which won't happen until mid-May at the earliest. The possibility of canceling the remainder of the season is still in play.

The CBA's ability to return to normalcy will be closely monitored by sporting leagues across the globe, including the NBA and EuroLeague, which are both postponed indefinitely.

According to Chinese media outlet Xinhua, CBA CEO Wang Dawei will take a 35% pay cut, and other executives will also reduce salary to help ease financial pressure.

Caught in limbo are more than a dozen Americans who returned to China and have finished their 14-day quarantine period. CBA teams have been conducting basketball activities in varying formats, some with full-contact practices and others through social distancing methods. Several player representatives told they've been informed that teams will look to extend contracts and put players on retainer in hopes of resuming play in July, while others may send foreign players home while waiting to see if reopening is likely.

CBA contracts are considered some of the most lucrative in professional basketball, which can make for a difficult decision for Americans. Considering the Foreign Ministry's ban on incoming travel from non-citizens, returning to China in June may prove impossible for those now leaving the country. Some of the top players in the CBA told they intend to stay in China as long as they are receiving salaries, rather than conducting two additional 14-day quarantines.

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Lance Stephenson among Americans returning to Chinese basketball

With the Chinese Basketball Association preparing to end a nearly three-month hiatus, the league is welcoming back some of its foreign players, with perhaps the biggest splash of all coming from Jeremy Lin.

"Safely landed back in Beijing to finish out the CBA season!" Lin said on social media Thursday after spending 40 hours traveling from his Bay Area home to China.

"It's been an awesome 2 months camped out in the gym ... basketball has never been more meaningful," he added. "The world needs basketball now more than ever."

Before he can reunite with his team, Lin -- like all foreign players returning to China -- will spend two weeks in quarantine.

"I am fully ready to work out in my room in the next 14 days, after which I will get back to the court with my teammates and finish this season with our best performance," he said.

Lin, the former NBA guard who enjoys great fanfare throughout China, is averaging 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game for the Beijing Ducks, who are 19-11 and positioned to make a playoff push, according to professional basketball API provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide ranges of sports games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds and players' statistics）

The CBA, which suspended play in late January, is expected to restart in mid-April. Once the league restarts, competition is expected to resume in limited capacity, as per iSports basketball API, including all 20 teams in one or two cities, a truncated regular-season and playoff schedule, and no fans.

Since the coronavirus outbreak hit China in January, sports have become a source of inspiration and power for the country's people. The recent victory of MMA fighter Zhang Weili at UFC 248 is a prime example of how sports can send an uplifting message to the nation's 1.4 billion people.

Lin, who has been sending well wishes to the Chinese people since the early stage of the outbreak, saw a generous welcome from Chinese fans, who have appreciated his voice and support as an American. On Chinese social media Weibo, where he has more than six million followers, Lin posted a photo of him autographing a Chinese medical worker's uniform at the airport. Soon after, it became one of the most popular posts on Chinese social platforms.

Joining him in this category is Stephon Marbury, the former NBA star who won three titles for Beijing and is now living there. Marbury, the coach of Lin's rival team, Beikong, has been advocating for the public to follow medical guidelines, practice care and learn from China's lessons in fighting the virus.

Teams have been urging their foreign players to return so they can practice with full rosters. However, due to various complications, many are still waiting. As of now, among those who have returned to China are Lin, Ty Lawson, Donatas Motiejunas, Sonny Weems, Kyle Fogg, Pooh Jeter, Marko Todorovic, Antonio Blakeney and Ekpe Udoh. More are expected to return in coming days.

Hamed Haddadi -- a former NBA center and a veteran of the CBA -- is held up in his home country of Iran, where the pandemic has also hit hard. His team, Nanjing, is working with the Chinese embassy in Iran to aid in his return.

Lance Stephenson, who is in his first CBA stint with Liaoning, has indicated he will return.

"Ready," he posted on Weibo with a video highlight of himself from earlier in the season.

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These college players are likely headed to the NBA in the following year

So here we are, no NCAA Final Four and a postponed NBA season. But to avid basketball fans, there’s the possibility to lose so much more. The college basketball season typically ends at a time when the NBA season is three-fourths completed and unveiling which teams need the next generation of stars, according to  professional basketball data provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide ranges of sports games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds and players' statistics）

Fans would start debating which upcoming stars their team might draft. March Madness has been a springboard for young hoopers to showcase their talents, improve their draft status and finish their college basketball careers with unbelievable memories. Unfortunately, this year’s prospects and teams with momentum have been stymied by the coronavirus pandemic.

I’ve seen many of these players play, going back to AAU ball and their high school careers. Their draft prospects might have shifted because of their NCAA tournament performances, but we’ll never know. However, the 2020 NBA draft will eventually happen with the inevitable questions: who’s your top five and who are the best players you might not have heard of.

The consensus top-five picks are in no order because the actual selection will depend on the needs of the organization. That said, the top five are generally considered franchise players. The 2020 draft doesn’t appear to possess a generational/franchise talent similar to last year’s Zion Williamson, the 2019 No. 1 pick, or Ja Morant, the No. 2 selection, but it does appear to feature a talented group that can improve an organization or strengthen a marginal playoff franchise. 

LaMelo Ball, a 6-foot-7 point guard, played in Australia this season. He can create for others, pass with either hand and keep defenses honest by hitting 3-pointers. Size and length are coveted in the NBA, but sometimes overstated, which is why the guys with grit, grind and authentic commitment make a roster and defy that logic. Ball has flair and ability, but does he have that star swag to carry a franchise to the next level? I’m not sure. He’s a poor man’s Penny Hardaway or a little better version of his brother, Lonzo Ball.

James Wiseman, the 7-foot center, played three games for Memphis. But as a result of a 12-game NCAA suspension after the season began, the young fella decided to withdraw and prepare for the NBA draft instead. He runs the floor, has great anticipation, rebounds and shoots the ball. He has great size and length and is a definitive rim runner. 

He knows his strength and will post in the paint consistently while offering a variety of offensive moves, and he also has the ability to pass out of the post to make plays. He has great hands and is very active going to the glass or protecting the rim. Similar to Brooklyn Nets center DeAndre Jordan, with a better jump shot.

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Anthony Edwards is a 6-foot-5 guard from Georgia with an NBA body. He can score at three levels, from 3-point range, drives to the basket and from mid-range, and also has the ability to get to the free throw line. He’s a great athlete with the skill level to match, and he’s also unselfish and makes good decisions. His respect comes from being named a preseason SEC first-teamer as a freshman. 

It’s a good movie so far, but not in the Oscars conversation yet. He didn’t consistently dominate or lead his team with the unwavering confidence that next-level franchise players wear. He’s supertalented and could be a franchise player if he demands opponents to put some more “respeck” on his name. He’s compared to former NBA star Mitch Richmond of the Dirty Dirty.

Obi Toppin, the 6-foot-9 forward for Dayton, is a top candidate for Naismith College Player of the Year. He’s a high-energy forward who really runs the floor well, high-level rebounder who rebounds out of his position (doesn’t have to be under the ball or the ball doesn’t have to drop in his hands for him to be an effective rebounder), can score around the basket and can shoot the 3. He’s grown four inches since high school. 

He’s a little more mature than the average junior in college, having attended prep school after high school and sitting out his first year at Dayton. He’s carried this mid-major program like he was on a mission, though because of the cancellation of the NCAA tournament, that didn’t happen. He’s a slightly smaller Amar’e Stoudemire.

Daniel Oturu is a 6-foot-10 big man from Minnesota. He’s long with a very high skill level, a great passer, shoots the 3 well and not a great athlete, but athletic enough. He’s got an NBA-ready body that will be a splash during an 82-game season. He shot 56.3% from inside the 3-point line and 36.5% from distance this season,as per iSports basketball API, but he has to improve his free throw shooting.

Cole Anthony is a 6-foot-3 point guard from North Carolina. He has a tough NBA body and can run a team, get to the basket and shoot the 3. He’s a superathlete with a killer instinct and a ridiculous work ethic, which is key for high-level success. I like the way he runs the team. He has leadership qualities like his father, former NBA player Greg Anthony, who captained the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels to the 1990 NCAA championship. But he’s a bigger, better athlete with a better shot. Some question his quickness, but the DNA is there. He seems to have recovered from an early-season injury. A player he reminds me of is Derrick Rose … maybe.

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Now this list could change a little, but as of this date, these young fellas are at the top of the list consistently. The next group of 10 are the guys who folks in the NBA are aware of but the national audiences are not necessarily as familiar with. Let me introduce them to you. They ball so hard it’s only right that we be fair.
THEY AREN’T HOUSEHOLD NAMES, YET

Jalen “Sticks” Smith is a 6-foot-10 forward from Maryland. He’s long and athletic, with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the court; he can rebound, run the floor and block shots. He’s gotten stronger and really protects the rim. Smith is an active forward who hasn’t really shown his full array of skills yet, but he’ll get that chance. He’s playing center but really is a forward. Stretch 4 will be his gig, as he will be a good pick-and-pop forward at the next level. Maybe Rasheed Wallace with better handles. I saw this after seeing him play in high school.

Vernon Carey is a 6-foot-10 forward/center from Duke. He’s a big body with a high IQ and skill set. He scores in the paint and can shoot from 15 feet, run the floor and compete on the backboard at a consistent level. He can play with his back to the basket but can also shoot the elbow or short corner shot, a floater and/or a jump hook. The big fella can deliver. He’s comparable to former Blue Devils Carlos Boozer and maybe Elton Brand.

Onyeka Okongwu is a 6-foot-9 multidimensional forward from the University of Southern California. He can do everything. He was teammates with LaMelo Ball in high school and came into his own after the Ball brothers left Chino Hills High School. He’s a superathlete who can score.

Daron “Fatts” Russell is a 5-feet-10 (OK, 5-feet-9) point guard from Rhode Island. This speedster always finds a way to get a bucket. He’s one of those players where you can see that he is trying to win everygame. He’s athletic enough to turn it up (dunk) going to the rim. He was the best guard in the Atlantic 10 this season, according to basketball livescore iSports API. There will be questions whether he can defend at the next level. Throwback comparison: Former NBA player Michael Adams – the no hops version.

Markus Howard is a 5-foot-11 (really closer to 5-foot-9) shooting guard from Marquette. He has deep range with a scoring ability similar to former Brigham Young University guard Jimmer Fredette, but Howard is faster and can get into the lane. Howard is an elite shooter with a career shooting percentage of at least 45% from the field and 3-point line, as per baksetball data provider iSports API. He is small, though, for the next level.

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Myles Powell is a 6-foot-2 “bucket” from Seton Hall. Bucket accurately suggests Powell’s position. He can score in every way. He’s a stronger, bigger version of former Purdue guard Carsen Edwards, who currently plays with the Boston Celtics. He’s another player who can score at all levels and in transition: half-court set drives, mid-range jumpers, from 3 and the free throw line.

Trayce Jackson-Davis is a 6-foot-9 rebounding forward from Indiana. He’s an unbelievable athlete with quickness. He rebounds out of position, even when he doesn’t have the inside position, nor does he have to be under the ball to be an effective rebounder. He’s also a good rim protector. His father is former NBA great rebounding forward Dale Davis, which makes you really believe that rebounding is in his DNA. When this multitalented freshman learns how to play, the sky’s the limit. Reminds you of his dad.

Cletrell Pope is a 6-foot-9 forward from Bethune-Cookman. He’s a long, athletic pogo stick player with one of the traits that make NBA folks stop to take notice. Pope has a serious motor, and led the nation in offensive rebounds per game, shot 60% from the field in conference play and was voted the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason player of the year this season. 

Pope plays hard, rebounds out of his position and runs the floor with the best of them. He defends multiple positions and had 21 double-doubles last season, breaking the record of former Norfolk State University and present Philadelphia 76ers forward Kyle O’Quinn, who was the last MEAC player drafted into the NBA (2012). Pope is the No. 1 prospect from a historically black university, according to iSports basketball API. He reminds me of former NBA great Dennis Rodman, without the hair color, dress or personality.

Now, this list could have included a couple of more guys, but most of them played at Power 5 schools and were on TV like a weekly series, so they’ve received their fair share of publicity. Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State), Sam Merrill (Utah State), Saddiq Bey (Villanova), Isaac Okoro (Auburn), Landers Nolley II (Virginia Tech), Payton Pritchard (Oregon), Jaden McDaniels (Washington), Patrick Williams (Florida State), Nico Mannion (Arizona) and Cassius Winston (Michigan State) are certainly not the only ones, but are a few really good players not discussed in detail. I just wanted to get the jump on the next group of NBA stars.

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Kevin Durant playing in summer 'not very realistic'

The possibility of a summer return for the NBA season has led to speculation that injured superstar Kevin Durant could rejoin the Brooklyn Nets in time for their postseason push.

But Durant's longtime business partner Rich Kleiman tamped down expectations for the former MVP on Monday morning, telling Golic & Wingo that hopes of Durant playing in June or July are "not very realistic."

"Honestly, not very realistic from my standpoint, and not even spoken about," Kleiman said.

Durant ruptured his Achilles tendon during the NBA Finals last June and signed with the Nets in July, according to sports data provider iSports livescore API.

（iSports API covers a wide ranges of sports games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds and players' statistics）

Nets GM Sean Marks has repeatedly stated that the team expects Durant to miss the entire 2019-20 season, given the traditional recovery timeline for Achilles injuries.

Sources given the widespread uncertainty about the coronavirus pandemic, NBA owners and executives are bracing for the possibility of mid-to-late June as a best-case scenario for the league's return.

Regular-season basketball in June would align with the expected 12-month recovery for Durant, but Kleiman was conservative when asked about that scenario.

"It feels like (Durant playing in the 2019-20 season) clearly was not something that was in the cards prior to all this," Kleiman said. "And now, I think just like the rest of the world, it's hard to take anything more than day by day.

"I think that Kevin is going to figure out the space that he needs to be in to continue to rehab during this time. But even that is hard to answer at this point, with the new kind of rules that were put in place last night."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation Sunday night that no events or gatherings should include more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, as per iSports API.

Sources told Wojnarowski that fears exist of a season completely lost, especially based on what some experts see as the slow response of the United States to flatten the curve of the coronavirus and make testing available on a widespread basis.

The Nets are 30-34 and currently are seventh in the Eastern Conference standings ,as per basketball data provider iSports API, despite Durant's season-long absence and multiple injuries to Kyrie Irving, who has been limited to just 20 games.

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Jazz's Rudy Gobert pledges to do 'justice' to justify next ejection

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was ejected late during Monday's 101-92 loss to the Toronto Raptors, and he didn't mince words at his displeasure about getting tossed, as per NBA livescore API provider iSports.

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"I don't think it makes sense to me. But next time, I'll do justice myself so the official can eject me for a reason," Gobert told reporters.

Gobert and the Raptors' OG Anunoby were thrown out with 40.6 seconds left after jawing with each other. They received double technicals and had to be separated by teammates.

Gobert said Anunoby "tried to elbow me in the face."

"And the guy that's getting paid to protect the other players didn't do his job," Gobert said, referring to the officials. "There was a little altercation, and we both got ejected when I didn't do anything back, pretty much, which I don't understand."

Gobert finished with six points and four rebounds in 32 minutes, Anunoby had seven points and five rebounds on Monday, according to iSports basketball API.

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Dion Waiters finalizing deal to join Lakers

Free-agent guard Dion Waiters is finalizing a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Thursday.

The Lakers worked out Waiters this week after clearing a roster spot by waiving guard Troy Daniels on Sunday, according to iSports NBA API.

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Waiters played only three games this season for the Miami Heat -- the most recent on Jan. 28 -- because of suspensions and poor conditioning. He has shown himself to be a talented scorer and playmaker in past seasons with the Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, as per NBA data provider iSports API.

The Lakers have been interested in acquiring another scoring playmaker for their second unit.

Waiters, 28, has averaged 13.2 points in his career.

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Anthony Tolliver gets 10-day contract from Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies signed veteran forward Anthony Tolliver to a 10-day contract, the team announced Monday. They took advantage of his addition immediately.

Tolliver had 12 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench, and was 4 of 5 from 3-point range, as Memphis defeated the Hawks in Atlanta, 127-88, according to sports data provider iSports API.

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Tolliver will be postseason eligible for the playoff-hopeful Grizzlies after being bought out by Sacramento. He gave the Kings back $144,901 -- the same amount to a 10-day contract. Because Tolliver was on a veteran's minimum, Sacramento still will have a cap hit of $1.6 million and will receive minimal savings from the buyout.

In the corresponding roster move, Memphis waived forward Jordan Bell.

Tolliver signed with the Trail Blazers in the offseason, but Portland shipped him to Sacramento at last month's deadline. The 34-year-old was averaging 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game before Monday. He took a career 37.3 percentage from 3-point range in his 12 NBA seasons into his Grizzlies' debut, as per professional iSports NBA data API.

The 6-foot-8 Tolliver also should help a Memphis team currently without the injured Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Brandon Clarke (quad). Both are expected to miss at least an additional week.

Memphis is in the No. 8 playoff spot in the Western Conference, behind Dallas and in front of Portland.

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Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke out at least 2 weeks

The Memphis Grizzlies said forward Brandon Clarke will miss at least two weeks because of a right quad injury.

Clarke played only three minutes in Memphis' loss to the LA Clippers on Monday, due to what the team initially called right hip soreness, according to NBA data provider iSports API.

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According to the Grizzlies, additional testing revealed that Clarke suffered a quad injury, with the team saying he will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Memphis already is without Jaren Jackson Jr., who is expected to miss at least two weeks because of a left knee sprain. Clarke started in Jackson's place on Monday.

Clarke, the rookie first-round pick out of Gonzaga, is averaging 12.0 points and 5.8 rebounds this season while shooting 62.3% from the field, as per iSports basketball API.

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Bradley Beal first player since Kobe Bryant to score 50 on back-to-back nights

Bradley Beal became the first player since Kobe Bryant to score 50 points in back-to-back nights when he dropped a career-high 55 in the Washington Wizards' 137-134 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, according to iSports API basketball data.

Beal shot 58% from the field -- including 8 of 13 from 3-point range, one night after he shot 56% in a 53-point performance in a loss to the Chicago Bulls, as per iSports NBA API.

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Bryant, who was honored in a memorial service in Los Angeles on Monday morning, scored 60 against Memphis and 50 against New Orleans on March 22-23, 2007 -- the final two contests of his historic four-game streak of scoring 50 points or more.

Unlike Bryant's Lakers, who won all four of those games, Beal's Wizards lost both of his 50-plus games, and the eighth-year guard joined Wilt Chamberlain, James Harden, and Devin Booker as the only players in NBA history to score 50 in consecutive games and lose twice. Beal is the first to do it in back-to-back nights, recorded by basketball stats provider iSports API.

Beal also became the first Wizards player in franchise history to score 50 in consecutive games. Since the franchise rebranded as the Wizards in 1997, only Michael Jordan had scored even 45 points in back-to-back games for Washington.

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Hawks' Clint Capela to miss at least 2 more weeks with heel injury

The Hawks say newly acquired big man Clint Capela will be re-evaluated in two weeks as he continues to recover from a heel injury.

The team says Capela started "participating in modified shooting while continuing non-impact conditioning and strength work as part of his rehabilitation." He hasn't played since Jan. 29 due to the injury.

Atlanta acquired Capela as part of the 12-player deal with the Rockets and Wolves ahead of the trade deadline earlier this month. He was averaging 13.9 points and 13.8 rebounds for Houston this season, according to iSports API basketball data.

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Another player Atlanta acquired at the deadline, Skal Labissiere, also will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the Hawks said Wednesday.

Labissiere, out since Dec. 28, continues to rehab a knee injury, the team said.

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Devin Booker replaces Damian Lillard in All-Star Game & 3-point contest

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker will replace the injured Damian Lillard in this weekend's NBA All-Star Game and 3-point contest.

The NBA named Booker as Lillard's replacement Thursday, one day after the Portland Trail Blazers star suffered a right groin strain.

Booker, 23, will make his first career All-Star appearance in his fifth season. The former Kentucky star is the NBA's 10th-leading scorer, averaging 26.4 points per game, and is the Suns' first All-Star since Steve Nash in 2011-12, reporter by iSports basketball data.

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Booker will play for Team LeBron -- the team selected by LeBron James, one of the captains alongside Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. James welcomed Booker to the team with a tweet Thursday.

Booker was among the more notable snubs when the NBA announced its initial All-Star reserves last month. He acknowledged being disappointed.

Lillard was injured in the second half of Portland's 111-104 loss to Memphis on Wednesday night. He said after the game that he would not compete in either the All-Star Game or the 3-point contest.

Lillard also noted that he hoped Booker or "someone like that" would fill his spot.

Although this is his first All-Star Game, Booker has been part of All-Star Weekend in each of his five NBA seasons. He has been in the 3-point contest three other times, winning the title in 2018 and also competing in 2016 and 2019, as per iSports basketball API. He was a finalist in that event as a 19-year-old in 2016, alongside Golden State's sharpshooting duo of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.

Booker still holds the 3-point contest records for most points in any round and most points in a final round -- he had 28 points in the finals to win the title two years ago. Booker took part in the skills challenge in 2017, according to iSports basketball data api.

He also scored 25 points in the 2016 Rising Stars game and 17 points when he returned to that game for first- and second-year players the following season.

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Karl-Anthony Towns out again with injured wrist

The Minnesota Timberwolves say Karl-Anthony Towns will miss Wednesday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets due to a left wrist injury.

Towns had an MRI on the wrist Tuesday, which revealed the injury. He will be further evaluated over the All-Star break, according to the team.

Towns is averaging a career-best 26.5 points and 10.8 rebounds in 35 games this season. He missed 15 games earlier this season with a sprained left knee, as per iSports NBA API.

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Wednesday's game is the Timberwolves' final game before the break. Minnesota's next game is Feb. 21 against Boston.

Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said prior to Wednesday's game that he did not know when or how Towns was injured. Towns had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists in 37 minutes in Monday night's loss to Toronto, according to iSports basketball livescore data.

"He's a guy who takes a lot of contact," Saunders said. "He's a guy who attacks the rim with force. There's been times where he's getting knocked to the floor. So we know that there is wear in that sense but no specific action."

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Raptors tie team record with 11th straight win

Terence Davis hasn't forgotten about being passed over for a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend. Even so, the Toronto Raptors' rookie is just happy he's playing for a contender.

Davis came off the bench to score a career-high 31 points and the Raptors tied a team record with their 11th straight win, beating the Chicago Bulls 129-102.

Toronto also won 11 straight in January 2016 and again Feb. 26-March 16, 2018, as per iSports NBA API.

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Pascal Siakam added 17 points, Serge Ibaka had 16, Chris Boucher 15 and Kyle Lowry 14 for the reigning NBA champions. The Raptors outscored the Bulls 69-39 in the second half to win their 12th consecutive meeting with Chicago.

Davis made a career-high 12 of his 15 field goal attempts, including 6 of 7 attempts from 3-point range.

Davis is the sixth rookie in Raptors history to score at least 30 in a game and the first to do it as a reserve.

An undrafted rookie from the University of Mississippi, Davis had scored 23 points twice this season, most recently against Washington on Jan. 17. He surpassed that mark with a 13-point fourth quarter and received a hug from Lowry when he checked out with 3:12 remaining.

Thaddeus Young fouled out with 21 points, and Zach LaVine had 18 as Toronto swept Chicago for the third straight season, according to iSports reliable basketball API.

Chandler Hutchison scored 17 points, and Ryan Arcidiacono and Coby Whiteeach had 12 for the Bulls, who are 8-18 on the road.

The Raptors were without guard Norman Powell, who broke the ring finger on his left hand in Friday's win at Detroit. Center March Gasol missed his third straight game because of a sore left hamstring. Both players are out indefinitely.

Bulls guard Kris Dunn missed his first game of the season, with Hutchison starting in his place. Coach Jim Boylen said Dunn has been diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

Dunn was injured on the first possession of Friday's loss at Brooklyn. He flew back to Chicago on Saturday to be evaluated by team doctors.

Bulls forward Daniel Gafford didn't return after suffering an apparent injury on an awkward fall in the first quarter, but Boylen said afterward that Gafford was OK. Gafford had missed the previous nine games because of a dislocated right thumb.

Chicago led 63-60 at halftime, but Toronto reclaimed the lead with a 17-4 run over the first five minutes of the third.

Siakam scored nine points in the third, and Ibaka had eight as the Raptors took a 95-85 lead to the fourth.

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